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How would you change the 15" MacBook Air?

S

SW3029

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 22, 2019
540
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(Without turning it into a MacBook Pro)

M3 chip is the obvious answer (and next step), but I really wish they would have put at least 1 USB-C port on the right side. I don't mind the 15MBA being limited to two USB-C ports, but I just wish there were one on each side.
 
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SW, agree with you about having a port on both sides.

They should also add a high-speed SD card slot. So much more convenient than hunting for a dongle.

Make the trackpad normal size, too!

Get rid of color dithering visual issues, if any.
 
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SD card slot. The previous two sizes of Air had an SD slot on the larger, not the smaller, so there's precedent.
 
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SW3029 said:
(Without turning it into a MacBook Pro)

M3 chip is the obvious answer (and next step), but I really wish they would have put at least 1 USB-C port on the right side. I don't mind the 15MBA being limited to two USB-C ports, but I just wish there were one on each side.
Click to expand...
I have always felt this was an incredibly dumb/questionable design choice since the M1 MBA. I have never understood it and especially after they did a redesign.
 
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Saturn007 said:
SW, agree with you about having a port on both sides.

They should also add a high-speed SD card slot. So much more convenient than hunting for a dongle.

Make the trackpad normal size, too!

Get rid of color dithering visual issues, if any.
Click to expand...
The trackpad is bigger than the 13” so not sure what ‘normal’ is.
 
Starting with 12GB RAM and having a 90/120hz display would make this device my all-time favorite, but it is already pretty close.
 
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SW3029 said:
(Without turning it into a MacBook Pro)
Click to expand...

Just take away the notch. It's clear with the new iPads that Apple can make the camera module much smaller while keeping the same bezels.

Other than that, no other complaints from me.

Surprised so many want a SD card slot. I personally don't miss it because the slot on my MBP 14" is very slow. An external SD card reader is exponentially faster.
 
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JPack said:
Add dual external monitor support.

Remove MagSafe and replace it with a third USB-C port.
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I wouldn't buy next gen MBA if Apple remove MagSafe. Enough for me, to have usb C port on the right side for better charging, and 16gb/512 as the base model.
 
bill-p said:
Just take away the notch. It's clear with the new iPads that Apple can make the camera module much smaller while keeping the same bezels.

Other than that, no other complaints from me.

Surprised so many want a SD card slot. I personally don't miss it because the slot on my MBP 14" is very slow. An external SD card reader is exponentially faster.
Click to expand...
The iPad is much thicker than the MBA display. So no, they can't fit a good camera in there today. Maybe tomorrow.
I don't really use the webcam much, so I would take a 720p camera instead of the notch, but many people may disagree.
 
neo_cs193p said:
The iPad is much thicker than the MBA display. So no, they can't fit a good camera in there today. Maybe tomorrow.
I don't really use the webcam much, so I would take a 720p camera instead of the notch, but many people may disagree.
Click to expand...

Thickness is not the issue. The MacBook Pro has thicker displays too but the notch is just as big. Basically, Apple is just trying to make it seem like the notch is a part of their identity. Next will be the island.

Here, you can see what's underneath the notch:
macbook_pro_notch.jpg


Source: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...s-more-than-just-a-1080p-camera.574456.0.html

Clearly the notch can be smaller if not gone. Maybe they'll turn it into an island next just like the iPhone...
 
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USB-C on the other side. Potentially remove Magsafe as I don't mind using USB-C.
Dual external display support.
FaceID (I don't mind the notch)
16Gb RAM standard
Better cooling
Lower price :)
Wifi7
120hz display
Something close to this color orange:
1688205330374.png
 
The only thing left on my wishlist is a number pad integrated into the keyboard

15'' MBA is basically the exact Mac I would have wanted

Sure can start adding features from the MBP like promotion, etc. but that starts to drive the cost up and for me the point of the 15'' Air is to have that larger computer size without jacking up the cost.
 
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Algus said:
The only thing left on my wishlist is a number pad integrated into the keyboard

15'' MBA is basically the exact Mac I would have wanted

Sure can start adding features from the MBP like promotion, etc. but that starts to drive the cost up and for me the point of the 15'' Air is to have that larger computer size without jacking up the cost.
Click to expand...
I can understand your need/preference, but I hope they never make a numpad like Dell & others (to the right of the other keys). The typing center of the keyboard, which is between the letters G and H (please see the tiny bumps on the keys F and J to understand why - that's where index fingers go for touch typists), is already a little bit to the left of the center of the laptop. Adding a numpad on larger laptops like the 15" or 16" would move the keyboard all the way to the left, to make room for the numpad.

That would mean that touch typists need to move their hands more to the left of the computer, which would place the display more to the right side of my head, instead of straight ahead of my eyes.

In addition, most manufacturers of laptops with numpads choose to center their touch pads below the B key, (between G and H, which is the logical center of typing), to minimize the touch area below our palms. Apple likes to put their touch pads in the middle of the laptop, which is fine because they have excellent palm rejection software, but if they also needed to move the keyboard to the left, the touch pad would be straight under our right hand, which would be/look silly.

Numpad in their current incarnation are a bad idea on a MacBook.
 
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I want to challenge the idea of FaceID on laptops.
I think TouchID is better. Here's why.

Firstly, you always have your hands available if you need to use your laptop, whereas the iPhone is much more portable and used in lots of unimaginable positions, perhaps with gloves, or dirty fingers etc. So I would argue FaceID is much more needed on the phone.

Secondly, Apple uses TouchID to switch between multiple users, which is great, because if somebody with an account on your computer touches that key, they probably want to and should use their own account.

On the other hand, imagine you only want to show something to a family member on your MacBook. Then FaceID picks up their face and switches to their user. Not good. Touching an extra special key is much more appropriate for this intent.
 
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More storage, 4tb. More usbc ports on other side. Doesn’t have to be Thunderbolt.
 
Unique case, possibly, but I’d prefer the MagSafe on the opposite side of the keyboard (for my setup), 3 total TB4 ports, and with all the space, would still prefer speakers surrounding the keyboard.

And I don’t think ProMotion should be limited to the Pro machines - particularly as the Airs will be heavily used for web browsing/video watching. I’m sure that’d encroach on MBP pricing by that point, though.
 
bill-p said:
Thickness is not the issue. The MacBook Pro has thicker displays too but the notch is just as big. Basically, Apple is just trying to make it seem like the notch is a part of their identity. Next will be the island.

Here, you can see what's underneath the notch:
View attachment 2226281

Source: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple...s-more-than-just-a-1080p-camera.574456.0.html

Clearly the notch can be smaller if not gone. Maybe they'll turn it into an island next just like the iPhone...
Click to expand...
That's pretty cool, I've not seen what's actually underneath. Yeah, seems like the width of the notch is more about design (relevant to display) as well.

While the newer generation MacBooks do have thicker displays, they are no where as thick as the iPads and iPhones that have high quality cameras in them.

I do agree that if anyone, it is Apple that can come up with some kind of middle ground here, or at least make the notch more functional by adding FaceID. I personally don't mind it as it's not interfering with actual desktop real-estate - they just moved the menu bar above the regular desktop area. I prefer Apple's application versus a 'reverse' notch found on the newer ThinkPads.

And yes, I do think the notch also serves as recognizable Apple design language. I'd also add that if there is a notch, the bezels should be razor thin, thinner than they are now (on the MacBook Air). But custom display panel (size) availability may play a role there.
 
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I think the M3 will be essential to the 15", first it will bring even better efficiency, making it an all-day-battery machine. Then I think the single external display limit will be lifted as well. To me this already completes the model, adding ports will just complicate the chassis and add weight / decrease battery life / worsen its structure etc. Having WiFi6E could be welcomed but don't see them doing it, since it may need antenna redesign (it is inside the display frame)
 
I hope the M3 MacBooks (all of them) ditch the notch for a pill-shape Dynamic Island cutout (even if it doesn't have DI functions).
 
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